New course a fair test

Tucson National's Sonoran will challenge golfers

By Charles Durrenberger
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.18.2006

Perhaps the best compliment any golf course can get is a tribute to fairness.

The new Sonoran Course at Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa makes up for its lack of length with options for the scratch golfer as well as the high-handicapper.

When U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman sat down at the drawing board 22 months ago, he envisioned a desert-style course that made you use every club in your bag.

Mission accomplished.

Lehman added nine new holes to the existing Green nine to form an intoxicating, "thinking-man's" round.

"Any golfer should think: Where's the pin? What are the conditions. What are my options?" Lehman said.

Tucson National's Orange and Gold nines remain untouched and have been renamed the Catalina Course — a traditional parkland-style layout. It will continue to host the Chrysler Classic of Tucson.

Nine months of moving dirt and $7.5 million later, Lehman has meshed his creativity with a common-sense approach.
"You can paint a pretty picture, but is it fair?" he asked.

From the get-go, the first hole sets the tone for what's ahead: fairways with ample room on the right for the majority of golfers who fade or cut the ball.

But the best feature is addition by subtraction.

The long, distasteful, downhill par-5 third hole has been replaced with a short par-3 and a driveable par-4.

Perhaps now the homeowners lining the right side will not have to dig Titleists out of their stucco, or Callaways from their pools.

"We made two good holes out of one bad hole," Lehman said.

The fun really gets rolling when you cross the Cañada del Oro wash, and take on eight holes carved out of the east side of the property.

"I like the way the holes set up," said Tucson National member Tom Draper. "It's all right there in front of you. It's a challenging golf course, but it's a fair golf course."

The gem is No. 8, a downhill par-4 that measures 367 yards from the members' tees.

Right away, a decision must be reached on whether to lay up short of a natural wash that crosses the fairway 266 yards from the white tees. It is 283 to clear it into a prevailing southwesterly breeze.

But perhaps the most fun challenge among the new links is the par-4 12th.

"It's my favorite tee shot on the course," Lehman quipped.

From the back tees, it's 234 yards to the lip of the left bunker and 272 to a huge trap guarding the right side.

Split the 15-yard opening between the bunkers, and you're left with 100 yards and a pitching wedge in your hand.

The smart play is a 3-wood to 145 yards, and a 7-iron into a benign green.
"Pick your poison," Lehman said.

Lehman took advantage of the breathtaking views, directing holes at the Santa Catalina, Santa Rita and Tucson mountain ranges.

And unlike the monotony of some layouts, you can actually remember each distinctive hole.

Even if you want to forget your scores.